As data takes center stage in business strategy development and execution, companies worldwide are realizing the potential of the cloud. Naturally, cloud migration of data, processes, and applications has become an immediate area of interest for organizations. However, cloud migration can only deliver its promised benefits when it is done right.

A robust cloud foundation is critical to successful cloud migrations that remain profitable over the long term. Here's how that can be ensured with these nine actions:

Design Scalable Cloud Architecture

Scalability ensures that your cloud architecture can cope seamlessly as your organization's needs grow in scope and size. Provisions must accommodate many application patterns, isolation zones, and capabilities. Each component also has to be supported with intelligently designed interfaces.

Build Organization Around Cloud

It is better to build the cloud architecture first and build the organization around it as much as possible. This approach requires building separate teams to manage the base foundation, isolation zones, and application patterns. The synergy between cloud and organization reduces delays, dependencies, and redundancies while maintaining an efficient cloud functionality at lowered costs. 

Partner Strategically With Cloud Service Providers (CSP)

Organizations often fear dependence on CSPs and prefer building their container platforms within the cloud. This is inefficient, but it also increases the risk of system failure due to poor resilience. Instead, partnering strategically with CSPs can reduce dependencies and maximize the value derived. A limited lock-in period and preparedness for a rapid shift can also mitigate the fear of dependence.

Promote Cloud Products Adoption 

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Instead of setting up an internal cloud service department or team to facilitate cloud migration of all applications, a product-centric approach is better. Scalable and reusable cloud products can be developed or procured with dedicated teams of engineers and architects managing their adoption. Application teams can then be encouraged to adopt an inventory of products to speed up their cloud migration with minimal hiccups.

Standardize Deployment Of Applications In Cloud

Application design and deployment logic shouldn't be recreated during a cloud migration. Application deployment capabilities must be standardized at an organizational level, with clearly defined application patterns. With only a few application patterns, the entire inventory of applications can be supported. Shared resources can be configured, deployment pipelines can be regulated, and compliances can be ensured.

Set Up Multiple Isolation Zones For Managing Change

Placing all the applications together in a cloud environment can expose you to high risk and unintentional disruption of all the applications whenever one is changed. However, each application can't be housed separately either, as that could make deployment of configuration changes highly inefficient. Setting up and maintaining multiple isolation zones to accommodate the applications in the cloud is an effective solution.

Applications with similar resilience, security posture, and business relevance can be clubbed together in the same isolation zone for efficient change management.

Build Reusable Base Capabilities

When using multiple CSPs, there is no need to build the same base capabilities with every CSP separately. Instead, reusable base capabilities can be built for network connectivity, routing, logging, identity services, and monitoring. These base capabilities can then be used across all isolation zones and CSPs standardized.

Smoothen Acquisitions With Integration Base Foundation

Organizations face workload inefficiencies while going through an acquisition and subsequent IT assets merger. The acquiring organization can use an Integration base foundation to smoothen this process and shorten the transition period. The acquired organization's compliance policies, security, network, and IAM can continue functioning on the integration base. They can be systematically migrated to the main base at a controlled pace. This way, workload migration can be successfully finished within three to nine months with minimal downtime. 

Prioritize Security With Security As Code (SaC)

The cloud workloads can be sufficiently protected by automating security without compromising speed and agility. Security as Code or SaC is a viable solution to automate cloud security and compliance. With SaC, pre-defined cybersecurity policies can be automatically referenced while provisioning cloud systems. This way, systems can continue to run in compliance without human intervention.

In conclusion, these nine commandments can help any organization maximize the value derived from cloud migration. More stable cloud foundations can be set up, scaled, and driven for organizational advantage by shifting the focus from short-term gains to long-term profitability.

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